While botox may be sought-after for its dramatic effect on wrinkles, it also is one of the most deadly biotoxins to be weaponised into a highly toxic aerosol form.
Research into protecting civilian and military populations from such a bioterroristic threat is ongoing. But one researcher at UNMC has reason to hope that there is a way to inhibit the deadly effects of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT).
Jonathan Vennerstrom, Ph.D., associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the UNMC College of Pharmacy, is among a group of researchers who have identified several small molecule inhibitors of BoNT.
“Specifically a number of antimalarial agents were found to interfere with BoNT/A activity,” Dr. Vennerstrom said.
Dr. Vennerstrom collaborated on the research with Dr. Sina Bavari, a UNMC graduate who is now at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases in Frederick, Md. Their findings were published in the Oct. 10 issue of Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications.
“The article is about the identification of several new small molecule inhibitors of BoNTs,” Dr. Vennerstrom said.
Dr. Bavari asked for Dr. Vennerstrom’s input on the research because of his work on anti-malarial agents. Dr. Vennerstrom is the principal investigator of a four-year, $4.4 million grant focused on developing a cheaper, more effective anti-malarial drug.
He has studied malaria for 17 years.
Dr. Vennerstrom said he hopes to continue to do research on botox with Dr. Bavari.
“We want to develop a joint research project in the future,” he said.